KARACHI: The Sindh High Court directed customs officials that the request of the petitioner for de-blocking of the user ID and to process the goods declaration of the petitioner shall be considered in accordance with law and compliance report may be submitted on next date of hearing on a petition filed by Muhammad Arsalan Moosmi, proprietor of M/s Moosmi Impex seeking restoration of his NTN blocked by customs officials due to alleged tax evasion matter.
On February 1, 2019, while hearing of matter, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi directed customs officials to submit para-wise comments on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated in his petition that petitioner is importer and stockiest of sodium saccharin and during the course of his business activities, he contracted with a company for export 200 bags of above-mentioned goods dated May 12, 2018.
He further argued that after the goods reached Al-Hamd International Container Terminal the petitioner opened the WeBOC portal to file goods declaration, upon opening the WeBOC portal and inserting the particulars in the goods declaration column the petitioner came to know that the NTN has been blocked by the customs officials on the basis of some recovery.
He said that blocking of the NTN of the petitioner is unlawful and is based on a litigation which has not attained finality and is still pending before the competent court, petitioner is therefore left with no other choice but to approach this court to order the respondents to de-block the NTN of the petitioner and is desirous from the court to direct the respondent to process the goods declaration in accordance with law.
Citing chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Deputy Collector of Customs Appraisement West and others as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to direct the respondents to process the goods declaration of the petitioner, order the respondents to un-block the NTN of the petitioner since the petitioner through the illegal blockage is facing huge financial losses.
He also pleaded the court to grant such other relief or release which this court may deems fit and proper under the circumstances of the case.